Compare towns
Cavendish vs Needham vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Lincoln has the most homeowners (88.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Cavendish | Needham | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.